Glen Jean, West Virginia, July 7, 2014— National Parks are exciting places to play! Get a taste of such outdoor adventures in this weekend's Outdoor Adventure Fest, an event coordinated by the National Park Service, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and featuring the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers. Try your hand at several types of recreation, plus learn the basics of smart outdoor ethics practices as you play, how best to minimize your impacts on land or water. This event and other ranger-guided programs in the park provide a fun way to experience the park and learn more about the area's rich natural and cultural heritage. All ranger programs are FREE unless otherwise noted. Wear comfortable walking shoes for guided walks. Water, snacks, camera and binoculars are other useful tools to bring along. Below is a list of this weekend's featured ranger programs:

Friday, July 11, 2014:

Ranger on the Rock

6:30 pm - 7:45 pm. Meet at Grandview's Main Overlook. Come and go as you please for this informal program with a ranger at one of the best views of the New River Gorge. Enjoy the scenery and discuss area natural and cultural history.

10:00 am - 11:30 am. Meet at the base ofPipestemResort State Park tramway. 2 mile walk.Walk withinBluestoneNational Scenic River for a mile and return. Along the way, enjoy the flora and fauna of the area and discover regional history. Bring $2.00 for the return tram ride.

Historic Thurmond Tour

11:00 am - 12:00 pm. Meet at the Thurmond Depot Visitor Center. 0.5 mile walk. What was life like in one of the New River Gorge's most renowned towns? Meet a ranger in Thurmond's historic district for an informal tour of this once bustling railroad town, hearing stories of days gone by.

Outdoor Adventure Fest – Adventure Street Fair

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Meet atGrandviewnear the visitor center. Try your hands at several types of outdoor recreation. Come and go as you please to get a taste of basic camping, biking, and water recreation skills. Plus learn smart outdoor ethics practices, how to best minimize impacts on the outdoors when you play in parks from the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, National Parks Service rangers, and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection staff.

Ranger on the Rock

6:30 pm - 7:45 pm. Meet at Grandview's Main Overlook. Come and go as you please for this informal program with a ranger at one of the best views of the New River Gorge. Enjoy the scenery and discuss area natural and cultural history.

Sunday, July 13, 2014:

Historic Thurmond Tour

11:00 am - 12:00 pm. Meet at the Thurmond Depot Visitor. 0.5 mile walk. What was life like in one of the New River Gorge's most renowned towns? Meet a ranger in Thurmond's historic district for an informal tour of this once bustling railroad town, hearing stories of days gone by.

Outdoor Adventure Fest –LNTTraveling Trainer Roundup

11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Meet at Canyon Rim Visitor Center in Lansing. Meet this national training team and learn hot Leave No Trace tips for any type of outdoor recreation.

6:30 pm - 7:45 pm. Meet at Grandview's Main Overlook. Come and go as you please for this informal program with a ranger at one of the best views of the New River Gorge. Enjoy the scenery and discuss area natural and cultural history.

Monday, July 14, 2014:

Adventure of the Night Hike

9:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Meet atGrandviewVisitor Center. 1 mile walk.Experience the sights and sounds of nature at night on this leisurely walk after dark. Find out what really does go bump in the night.